Almost October

Posted by on Sep 28, 2014 in Blog | 0 comments

Hello everyone!

It’s hard to believe October is almost here. Where has time gone? October will be a bittersweet month for me, as it marks the end of my two years of service as Ms. Wheelchair Minnesota USA and the start of a new venture for me.

It is really hard to put the last two years into words and do it all justice. What an incredible journey it has been! Ms. Wheelchair USA isn’t just a pageant. It’s not about external beauty. It’s not about performing some kind of talent. It’s about having inner beauty and inner talent – the kind that makes you want to prove stereotypes wrong and help make the world a better place. Throughout my last two years I’ve learned so much thru connecting with so many people. My eyes have been opened to so many challenges that people face every day and everything that needs to be done to make the world an accessible and fair place for everyone. This has only further ignited my fire to do what I can to change the world. I know I can’t solve all of the world’s problems, but I can be another voice to be reckoned with that is advocating for those who can’t and motivating others to make some kind of change. We are all capable of doing something great, big or small, and it’s important to me to help make people see that.

Ms. Wheelchair USA is also a family. I have met so many wonderful and amazing people thru this experience and because of this experience. From my pageant sisters to the volunteers, all of them have touched me and have had an impact on me in some way. I love my new extended family and I’m so thankful to have them in my life!

As I’ve said before, this isn’t the last Ms. Wheelchair USA has seen of me. I intend to make another run for the crown someday (maybe in a couple of years). For now it’s time I focus on a new venture…

Like I said above, I’ve learned so much thru this experience. I’ve learned a lot about myself and what’s important to me. I’ve had multiple ah ha moments in the last year while out speaking that made me realize just what it is I’m supposed to be doing with my life. It’s so very important to me that I’m doing something that is fulfilling, that is rewarding, that is positive and that is helping others. Seeing and hearing that others have connected with something I said has been absolutely the most rewarding experience in my life. There are just no words that can explain what an incredible feeling that is. I’ve learned that while there’s not much I can physically do to help people; there is so much I can do with my voice and my words. Thru this experience I have realized that my purpose in life is to be helping people with my words… thus the launch of my motivational speaking venture.

It’s funny to think that something that once terrified me is actually my purpose in life. I used to be so scared of speaking in front of any size group and now it’s my favorite thing to do! I guess I have my high school guidance counselor Mr. Cooley to give some credit to for not letting me drop Sports & Entertainment Marketing class when I found out we were going to have to give presentations. 🙂

In addition to speaking, my new venture also includes offering consulting and advocacy help and services. From public relations, social media and event planning to healthcare and accessibiliy, I’m kind of a Jen-of-all-trades and want to utilize my diverse background and skills to help others achieve their goals and objectives and to be successful.

Now, my reign isn’t up just yet and as some of you know, I like to go big or go home. I want to celebrate the last two years and (hopefully) go out with a bang…

October is Disability Awareness Month and I want to recognize and celebrate it by starting a challenge, appropriately called the Disability Awareness Challenge. The best way to create awareness of something isn’t simply doing something silly, it’s doing something that actually helps you understand an issue or condition – and yes, that something you do can also be silly or fun.

I’ve come up with five activities designed to somehow demonstrate what it’s like to have some kind of disability such as a visual impairment or various physical impairments. These activities are:

  1. Bobbing Challenge: Bobbing for apples or tennis balls blindfolded. The goal is to pick out five in 30-seconds. Hands must stay behind the participant’s back. Apples or tennis balls must be of average size.
  2. Hopping Challenge: Hop on one foot through a course of five cones. Hands must be tied behind the participant’s back. Participant must go through the course and back to the beginning, hopping on one foot and cannot change feet. If you don’t have cones other objects can be used as markers. Cones or markers must be 3ft a part.
  3. Spaghetti Challenge: Eat a plate of spaghetti (with sauce) without hands. Hands must be tied behind the participant’s back. Participant can only use their mouth. Spaghetti may be substituted with a whole pie.
  4. Office Chair Challenge: Navigate through a course of five cones with an office chair on wheels. Participant must be seated in the office chair and their hands must be tied to the armrests of the office chair, and can use only their feet to navigate and propel. Participant must go through the course and back to the beginning. If you don’t have cones other objects can be used as markers. Cones or markers must be 4-5ft a part.
  5. Dizzy Challenge: Starting at home plate of a baseball or softball field, place your forehead on top of a baseball bat and spin yourself around the baseball bat 10 times, then run from home plate to first base and once there do 10 jumping jacks while singing the alphabet.People challenged are to select one of the five activities and have someone video them doing the activity. Participants are also to make a $10 donation to one of the charities listed below.The video should start with the participant stating “My name is (first name) and I accept the Disability Awareness Challenge from (name challenger). I will be doing the (name challenge). I have donated $10 to (name charity). I challenge (name four people) to take the Disability Awareness Challenge. You four have 72 hours to select your activity and complete the challenge. Visit disabilityawarenesschallenge.com for information.”

Participants must upload their video to Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram and use the hashtag #disabilityawarenesschallenge. They must also tag the four people they challenged.

I know there are many organizations doing great things for people living with disabilities and for disability awareness. Many support specific conditions, injuries and causes. Because Disability Awareness Month celebrates all disabilities, I want people living with all types of disabilities to benefit from this challenge and have listed organizations below that support disabilities in general. Please select one and send your $10 donation to them.

I am certainly not doing this for any attention. I am doing this because I believe that while we have come a long ways, there’s so much farther we need to go for acceptance and inclusion of people living with disabilities, and so many stereotypes still to be erased. Despite having come so far, people living with disabilities still oftentimes face discrimination with education, employment, housing, transportation, healthcare and in public. And, sadly, it’s not uncommon for a person living with a disability to be living in poverty. This is absolutely unacceptable.

If you’re reading this, you have been challenged! You have 72 hours to complete it!

Thank you everyone for all of your support and encouragement these last two years! What a blessing it has been! I’m looking forward to seeing your challenge videos and hope we can start something big. Together we can make a difference and change the world.

Lots of love,

Jen

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *